Frank sinatra jr dies

Hector Ramirez , a cameraman known for live events and music and comedy specials who racked up 20 Emmys and scores of other nominations in a career spanning 44 years and 200-plus credits, has died. He was 78. His wife, Alma, posted the news on social media last week. “Today I lost my husband, partner, friend, hero, protector, handyman and cameraman extraordinaire,” she wrote on January 11. “So many memories to behold in the 47 years of our marriage that my heart is broken and my world so much smaller. He was larger than life, a dad, grandfather, uncle, brother and loved by so many friends. He touched so many lives. He is deeply missed. No more pain baby, rest in peace and go and tell your stories to all the angels in heaven.” Ramirez won four Emmys for his work on Dancing with the Stars , on which he worked from 2006-13, and also won TV Academy hardware for American Idol, the 1994 Oscars , the 2008 Grammys and specials from Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon, Cher, … [Read more...] about Hector Ramirez Dies: 20-Time Emmy-Winning Cameraman On Oscars, Grammys, ‘DWTS’ & More Was 78

Cindy Williams , who starred in the smash Happy Days spinoff Laverne & Shirley after appearing in George Lucas’ American Graffiti and Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation, has died. She was 75. Her family told the Associated Press today that the actress died Wednesday after a brief illness. “The passing of our kind, hilarious mother, Cindy Williams, has brought us insurmountable sadness that could never truly be expressed,” reads the statement from her children, Emily and Zak Hudson, relayed through a spokesperson. “Knowing and loving her has been our joy and privilege. She was one of a kind, beautiful, generous and possessed a brilliant sense of humor and a glittering spirit that everyone loved.” Williams played Shirley Feeney in Laverne & Shirley opposite Penny Marshall’s Laverne DeFazio. The series was an out-of-the-box smash after premiering in January 1976 on ABC. The characters first appeared briefly on Happy Days — which was created by … [Read more...] about Cindy Williams Dies: ‘Laverne & Shirley‘ Star Who Appeared In ’American Graffiti’ & ‘The Conversation’ Was 75

EXCLUSIVE: After helping get this years Sundance Film Festival off the ground with the festival’s opening night movie, Sometimes I Think About Dying, director Rachel Lambert has signed with Range Media Partners. Lambert along with the films star, Daisy Ridley have earned raves following the premiere and the project is now being eyed by several buyers who attended opening night. The pic is also competing in the U.S. Dramatic Competition. “I’m excited to have the dynamism and innovative spirit of an organization like Range at my side as I move forward as a storyteller,” said Lambert. The film follows Fran (Ridley) who spends her days in the solitude of a cubicle and daydreams to pass the time. As she’s ghosting through life in her bubble of isolation she then meets Robert at her job who goes against everything she stands for. Deadline’s Valerie Complex called, “refreshing, innovative and humorous.” “We’re beyond thrilled about partnering up with such a singular filmmaker … [Read more...] about ‘Sometimes I Think About Dying’ Director Rachel Lambert Signs With Range Media Partners

Sal Piro , who played a pivotal role in creating the audience participation routines that turned The Rocky Horror Picture Show into a multi-decade, world-wide phenomenon, died at his home in New York City Jan 21. His death was announced by The Rocky Horror Picture Show Fan Club, which he founded in 1977 and served as its president until his death, becoming a major figure in creating the movie’s cult classic status. “Sal was the defacto face of Rocky Horror fandom for decades,” the fan club said in a tweeted statement. “He will be sorely missed.” Opening to terrible reviews in 1975, The Rocky Horror Picture Show soon became a staple of the midnight movie screenings at New York City’s Waverly Theater in Greenwich Village. Surprisingly, the film quickly drew the devotion of young fans, including Piro, who shouted humorous responses to much of the film’s dialogue. As the responses became more elaborate into a sort of viewing ritual, Piro helped shape a floor show of audience … [Read more...] about Sal Piro Dies: Original ‘Rocky Horror’ Role-Playing Superfan And Subject Of Upcoming Movie Was 71

Everett Quinton , a staple of New York’s post-1960s downtown theater scene and diligent standard-bearer for the outrageously campy and hilariously melodramatic style of performance known as the Ridiculous, died of glioblastoma January 23 in Brooklyn. He was 71. The actor-director’s death was confirmed to The New York Times by friend Julia Campanelli speaking on behalf of his sister Mary Ann Quinton. Making his name in the Off (and Off Off) Broadway theater world initially with his partner in life and art, the actor, playwright and director Charles Ludlam, Quinton would star in numerous productions at the Greenwich Village playhouse of the Ridiculous Theatrical Company, founded by Ludlam in 1967. Quinton and Ludlam met in the mid-1970s and would remain together until Ludlam’s death from AIDS-related pneumonia in 1987. Their partnership would produce dozens of glitter-filled, sequined stage comedies that were among the first and most beloved examples of queer theater … [Read more...] about Everett Quinton Dies: Downtown NYC Theater Pioneer And Champion Of The Ridiculous Was 71

Actress Annie Wersching, best known for her roles in the television shows 24, Bosch and Timeless , died of cancer early this morning. She was 45. Wersching continued to shoot even after her 2020 diagnosis, with prominent roles in Star Trek: Picard as the Borg queen in Season 2, and The Rookie. She also voiced Tess in the popular The Last Of Us video game, which was adapted into a TV series by HBO . Wersching’s husband, actor Stephen Full, issued a statement. “There is a cavernous hole in the soul of this family today. But she left us the tools to fill it. She found wonder in the simplest moment. She didn’t require music to dance. She taught us not to wait for adventure to find you. ‘Go find it. It’s everywhere.’ And find it we shall. “As I drove our boys, the true loves of her life, down the winding driveway and street, she would yell BYE! until we were out of earshot and into the world. I can still hear it ringing. Bye my Buddie. ‘I love you little family…’ “ … [Read more...] about Annie Wersching Dies: Actress In ‘24’, ‘Bosch’ And ‘Timeless’ Was 45

Bruce Gowers , a prolific and groundbreaking director of music videos whose work included the groundbreaking, much-imitated 1975 video for Queen’s “ Bohemian Rhapsody ,” died Sunday in Santa Monica of an acute respiratory infection. He was 82. Winning multiple Emmy, Grammy, MTV and DGA Awards as a director and producer, Gowers’ credits include hundreds of major television events, episodes and award shows including The Primetime Emmy Awards, The Billboard Awards, The MTV Video Music Awards, and, for eight seasons, American Idol , for which he won the 2009 Emmy for Best Musical Variety Director. Gowers video for “Bohemian Rhapsody”, in which the band members’ faces were shown against a dark background they sang four-part harmony, helped establish both the rock band as one of the biggest of the decade and music videos as a powerful promotional tool for the recording industry. Gowers would subsequently direct popular music videos for such music icons as Prince (“1999”), … [Read more...] about Bruce Gowers Dies: Groundbreaking Music Video Director Of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” Was 82

Dean Daughtry , the keyboardist and co-write r behind Atlanta Rhythm Section ’s two biggest hits, died Thursday of natural causes in Huntsville, AL. He was 76. Atlanta Rhythm Section was omnipresent on the radio in the 1970s, thanks to its Top 10 soft-rock hits “So Into You” and “Imaginary Lover.” Daughtry co-wrote both. “While ARS is known to be a guitar centric band, just listen to the recordings and you’ll realize the contribution that Dean brought to the band. From the first chord of ‘So Into You,’ and the introduction to ‘Imaginary Lover,’ he left his imprint on the band’s recordings,” the group wrote on Facebook. “For 49 years he never missed a gig, until his health forced him to retire a couple of years ago, cutting short his goal of 50 years. He was like a Bulldog, but his friends knew him as ‘OX.'” Daughtry was the sole consistent member from 1971 through 2020, when he retired. Before joining ARS, Daughtry played keyboards in The Candymen and later Classics … [Read more...] about Dean Daughtry Dies: Cofounder of Atlanta Rhythm Section, Cowriter Of Hit ‘So Into You’ Was 76

Gregory Allen Howard , the first African American screenwriter for a $100 million drama with Remember The Titan s, died today in Miami after a brief illness, his publicist said. He was 70. Howard also was the only African American screenwriter to write a spec script that became a $100 million movie, also for Remember the Titans , which starred Denzel Washington and was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. His credits included Ali, starring Will Smith and Jamie Foxx, directed by Michael Mannas, as well as the award-winning stage play Tinseltown Trilogy . Howard was a two-time winner of the NAACP Image Awards, and also won the Christopher Award, the Howard University Paul Robeson Award for artistic excellence, and the Heartland Film Festival Award for screenwriting excellence. Harriet , originally titled Freedom Fire , was Howard’s first feature assignment more than 28 years ago at Disney. Eventually, the movie was made and starred Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., … [Read more...] about Gregory Allen Howard Dies: Screenwriter On ‘Remember The Titans’ And Producer Was 70

At the start of awards season, Edward Berger ’s All Quiet On The Western Front was a lock for International, but few could have foreseen how much further it would go. Alongside that nomination, the German film is now also in the running for Best Picture, having made the shortlist for Sound, Original Score, Adapted Screenplay, Makeup and Hairstyling, Production Design, Visual Effects and Cinematography. This grand haul follows its performance at the BAFTAs, where it gathered an astonishing 14 nominations in almost all major categories. As a result, the film joins Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2002) in second place to Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi (1981), which still holds the BAFTA record for nominations with 16. It’s a double-whammy that will surely prompt some second thoughts at Netflix: in a year that the streamer invested in some of cinema’s biggest names, one of its biggest critical hits is a foreign-language remake with no major stars, from a director best … [Read more...] about 2023 Oscars: ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Earns Nine Nominations